NEW YEAR, SAME FIRE
Burning through the year
Chris Onyedinma | Mon 6th Jan 2025
Happy new year! It’s 2025, I hope you have had a wonderful time with your family and loved ones over the past few weeks as you have been celebrating Christmas and the new year. We certainly had a fun time at our new years eve crossover service as we worshipped and prayed into the new year.
The new year is usually a time a lot of us reserve for starting new things…new hobbies, new habits, new skills. You know the saying “New Year, New Me” Whilst the idea of a new years resolution can be really good; being able to make a fresh start at something to help develop character, personality or lifestyle habits. I can not help but be reminded by the one thing that remains the same. GOD.
We have a God that is unchanging, year after year, season after season. His nature, his holiness, and his ongoing promises for us remains the same.
In the united kingdom in a place called Devon, there is a small village pub called “The Warren House Inn”. This particular pub is known for having the longest burning fire. The fire is said to have been burning for over 100 years even during the summer months, the same fire has kept burning continuously, not a new fire each day or each new year, It has been the same burning fire for over 100 years.
There is a similar story like this in the bible. In Leviticus 6:12-13
“The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.”
These verses are part of the detailed instructions God gave to the Israelites about worship and sacrifice. Over these last few weeks I have felt God encourage me through this old testament scripture. “Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.”
The fire on the alter represented Gods presence, this fire was started directly by God (Leviticus 9:24) and the command to keep the fire burning symbolised God’s unchanging nature and the commitment needed to maintain God’s presence on the alter continuously.
The Good news of the gospel today is, Christmas! the miraculous birth of Jesus who was sent to us on earth, and in his death paid the ultimate sacrifice once and for all. The final act of sacrifice for all believers.
This means we now no longer have to deal with physical alters and sacrifices anymore. However, we are called to still keep the fire of devotion to God alive in our hearts.
In the new testament in Acts 2:2-4.
We read about another fire that descended from heaven on to the people in the upper room. This fire came In the form of the holy spirit.
As believers in christ, we have the holy spirit in us, and we must also keep the fire of the spirit burning in our lives continuously, day after day, week after week, year after year.
There will be times where it might be difficult to keep the fire burning, maybe a lack of wood or fuel of whatever kind. I’m sure there will be time and places when it seems like the fire is not burning bright enough or burning as strong as it once did. In times like these Paul reminds us how we can keep burning for Christ. “1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 “
- Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.
My prayer this new year is for strength, strength from the lord to keep the fire in our hearts burning brighter, stronger and more powerful than ever.
As we kick off this new year, I want to encourage you, in all that you do …
Don’t Burn-out ! , keep Burn-in! for Christ!
Happy new year!